- The cast of Willow is slated to return in a new streaming Disney Plus series
- The original launched in 1988, and was Warrick Davis first-role outside of an Ewok mask
- The screenplay is being developed by Jon Kasdan, who recently wrote Solo: A Star Wars Story
- It’s hoped the new series will feature much of the original cast
Warwick Davis is set to return as the character Willow Ufgood in a new Willow TV series. The reboot is slated to appear on Disney’s online streaming service, Disney Plus.
The film – which was originally launched in 1988 – was directed by Ron Howard, and starred Joanne Whalley, Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis. The film tells the tale of a reluctant dwarf who must protect a special baby from an evil magic-wielding queen.
The news comes courtesy of MTV News correspondent Josh Horowitz, who broke the news on Twitter. He said that Disney Plus will be developing the Willow Series, based on an original pitch from Jon Kasan and Warwick Davis.
The journalist added, “You in, @valkilmer?”
Screenwriter Jon Kasdan – who is the son of Lawrence Kasdan (he who wrote Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back) recently penned the screenplay for Solo: A Star Wars Story (which also happened to be directed by Ron Howard). Kasdan is also slated to write the new, still-untitled Indiana Jones 5 film.
There’s no word on whether or not all the original cast will be coming back to the screen, but fans can hope.
The original Willow film was originally called ‘Munchkins’, and came from the sci-fi/fantasy man himself – George Lucas. It was released five years after Return of the Jedi (in 1983) and four years after The Temple of Doom (1984) and while it received mixed reviews when it launched (critics called it a rip-off of Star Wars) it has become a firm cult favourite since.
Many people don’t know that the film was written for Warwick Davis, with George Lucas originally pitching the idea to Davis’ mother, during the filming of one of the Star Wars Ewok TV specials back in 1983.
According to Davis, Lucas mentioned the idea but said it wouldn’t be ready for a few more years.
“George just simply said that he had this idea, and he was writing this story, with me in mind,” Davis said. “He didn’t say at that time that it was going to be called Willow. He said, ‘It’s not for quite yet; it’s for a few years ahead, when Warwick is a bit older.’
Willow would become one of many new series that Disney has in store for its Plus streaming service, along with new Star Wars Boba Fett show and several shows based around the popular Marvel Studios franchise.
